Latest Briefing Paper Available

Updated 28 January 2010

The latest briefing paper from the VAS board (number 7) is now available to download - see the box to the right, marked downloads.

If you'd like to find out more about the work of VAS, or to discuss how VAS might be able to help your organisation then please contact us. We remain willing and committed to speaking to, or visiting, individual CsVS or VCs across Scotland to give brief presentations, answer your questions and hear about your ideas going forward.

Our next Board meeting will be 09 February in Edinburgh. Please contact any Board member if you have an item you'd like us to consider at our meeting.

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Scottish Government Funds Voluntary Action Scotland

Updated 09 November 2009

Friday 06 November saw the Scottish Government's Third Sector Division confirm a grant of £40,000 to VAS. This is welcome recognition of the progress and future potential of VAS.

This funding will allow more detailed work to be undertaken in relation to the support needs of interfaces. It will also give the necessary resource to improve and develop our communication with members and prospective members, meet the essential travel costs to fulfil the representational roles being offered and the ability to raise and follow through on members’ interests in national policy arenas.

This statement of confidence from the Government is particularly welcome as we prepare to meet with John Swinney, MSP, later in November.

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CVS's and VAS continue to work with SCVO

Updated 06 November 2009

Senscot reported recently that, earlier this year, CVS's "broke away from SCVO". This is not the case. CVS's recognised that SCVO, due to their diverse membership and governance structure, were not in a position to put CVS interests first at all times and wanted a national voice which would, hence the creation of Voluntary Action Scotland (VAS). Many CVS's remain members of SCVO, work with SCVO and SCVO continues to provide support services to CVS's across Scotland.

VAS is in the process of developing a strategic relationship with SCVO to ensure we work together effectively in support of the work undertaken by local infrastructure organisations across Scotland.

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CVS network votes to welcome VC colleagues

Updated 27 October 2009

Voluntary Action Scotland produced a report prior to October's first joint CVS and VC conference, held in Cumbernauld. The Report sets out VAS's aspirations to be a membership body open to local infrastructure organisations - not just CVS's or emerging third sector interfaces. We wanted to allow Volunteer Centres to become members and we now have the mandate from Scotland's CVS's.

We will now be engaging with VC colleagues to ensure VAS develops in ways which support both CVS and VC activities and interests.

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National voice, local impact

Updated 01 October 2009

Voluntary Action Scotland is the only national umbrella organisation specifically for local third sector infrastructure - focusing on issues that matter to you and responding to your needs.

Scotland's newest infrastructure organisation was created in May 2009. Formed by the CVS network it is a membership body for CVS's and the emerging third sector interfaces.

Third sector interfaces are being formed across Scotland, with 10 in place by 01 October 2009. The new interface arrangements are bringing together four key, local infrastructure functions:

• support to voluntary organisations operating in the area, both local and those national organisations that deliver services at the local level;
• support to and promotion of volunteering;
• support and development of social enterprise;
• connection between the Community Planning Partnership and the third sector.

The move to interfaces presents exciting new opportunities for Scotland's third sector.